The GIANTS have unveiled their new Indigenous jumper, to be worn in Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds in 2023.

The jumper was designed by Leeanne Hunter, who previously designed the Sir Doug Nicholls Round jumper for the GIANTS’ AFL team in 2019 as well as the GIANTS’ current AFLW Indigenous jumper.

The jumper is called Ngurra, which means country and connection in Darug language, the native tongue of the lands of Western Sydney.

Hunter is a proud descendant of the Wiradjuri Nation of Aboriginal people with her family lineage stemming from the Central West region of NSW. She has been a practitioner of contemporary Aboriginal art for over 27 years.

The GIANTS will wear their Indigenous jumper across rounds 10 and 11 when they take on St Kilda at GIANTS Stadium and then Geelong in Geelong.

Hunter described the process of designing the jumper for 2023.

“I always reflect on what once was on traditional lands,” Hunter explained.

“The environment will diminish as progress moves forward and this piece is to remind people even though the city grows, we must allow space for nature to continue along the way.

“I depicted an interpretation of the Cumberland Plains, with people living on, playing in and enjoying its surrounds.”

In the design, Hunter has reflected the GIANTS’ home ground being on freshwater country, with the broader geographical region of Western Sydney surrounded by rivers and bushland.

The rivers are depicted by the flowing white lines on the border with the small round circles that connect them reflecting the suburbs and communities who live in those surrounding areas.

The large round orange circles on the front represent the areas that the players come from to come together at the GIANTS and play football as a team. The footprints represent the impact of the GIANTS’ footsteps in Western Sydney.

On the back of the jumper, the leaf shape reflects the surrounding bushland of the Western Sydney region. The large orange circle represents GIANTS Stadium with the footprints reflecting the players’ journey as they travel to the ground to play their matches.

The hands are used to reflect the skill of the players and the applause they receive from the loyal legion of the Orange Army.

The AFL’s annual round recognising and celebrating indigenous players and culture was re-named in 2016 in honour of Sir Doug Nicholls.
 
Sir Doug, who epitomised the spirit of reconciliation, played 54 games for Fitzroy and was a brilliant all-round athlete. The first Aboriginal person to be knighted, he also served as Governor of South Australia and was devoted to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
 
All 18 clubs will wear special Indigenous-themed jumpers across the two rounds.

You can purchase the 2023 Jumper from the GIANTS Shop online, HQ or at game day while stocks last.
 
The GIANTS will take on St Kilda in round 10 at GIANTS Stadium Sunday, May 21 at 4:40pm.